Our Community Engagement Strategy

our community engagement strategy Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Community Planning Partnership

JUNE 2019

Our Community Engagement Strategy

FOREWORD

A message from the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Community Planning Strategic Partnership 03

01 ENGAGE

Why engaging with our communities is important

02 DEVELOP

Improve community engagement

03 ABOUT

About our Community Planning Partnership

04 FRAMEWORK

Our Community Engagement Framework

05 ACHIEVE

Achieving Quality Community Engagement

06 CHALLENGES

Improve community involvement

07 NEXT

Next Steps and Action Plan

table of contents 2

04 - 05 06 - 07 08 - 11 12 - 15 16 - 17 18 - 19 20 -25

foreword

foreword

COMMUNITY Confident Healthy Welcoming

Community planning is about improving the quality of life of people who live and work in our Borough. Communities having a greater say in how their services are delivered and how their area is planned is at the heart of this work. This Community Engagement Strategy sets our community planning partnership’s aspirations, along with the steps we will take together to make sure that people can be more involved in the decisions that affect their lives.

We developed and agreed our vision for the Borough and our community planning priorities by actively seeking the involvement of and listening to local people, businesses and community and voluntary organisations. As we take actions to deliver on our nine shared outcomes arranged around the three strategic pillars of Community, Economy and Place we are committed to having an open, inclusive and ongoing dialogue with our communities.

Roger Wilson Chair of the Community Planning Strategic Partnership

At the heart of all we do...

Connectivity Equality Sustainability PLACE Creative Enhanced Revitalised

ECONOMY Enterprising Skilled Tourism

Ruth Bell Vice-Chair of the Community Planning Strategic Partnership

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Our Community Engagement Strategy

01

engage with communities 4

engage communities

Why engaging with our communities is important

We want to make a positive difference for people and communities and support people to have more of a direct say in the decisions that affect their neighbourhoods and lives.

We recognise that there are many benefits of good community engagement:

We welcome the statutory duty on Community Planning Partners to seek community participation in the community planning process.

COMMUNITY IS DEFINED IN ITS BROADEST SENSE & INCLUDES:

• Local plans and services are more responsive to local needs and build on local strengths and assets;

ۗ​ۗ our residents;

• Skills and knowledge in communities and across public and private sector partners are brought together broadening understanding of the issues and fostering joint action which has greater impact;

ۗ​ۗ voluntary body representatives whose activities benefit our district;

• Positive relationships, mutual trust and respect are forged and strengthened; • The views and experiences of those who may experience barriers to having a voice (for example, because of poverty and social exclusion, discrimination, disability or age) shape the priorities and solutions of the partnership; • People have increased knowledge of how decisions are made and are supported to influence and shape decisions leading to a sense of effective participation and improved quality of life;

ۗ​ۗ our service users;

ۗ​ۗ our businesses; and ۗ​ۗ other persons interested in the social, economic or environmental wellbeing of the area.

We acknowledge that good community engagement is at the heart of addressing inequality. Therefore, we will strive to enable and empower the full participation of all our community. We will make extra efforts to actively engage with those who are traditionally underrepresented or face barriers to inclusion including women, children and young people, people with disabilities and rural dwellers.

• People are energised and more confident.

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Our Community Engagement Strategy

02

develop a strategy 6

develop a strategy

Why develop a Community Engagement Strategy?

THIS STRATEGY WILL Enhance our community engagement through agreed standards, defined roles and clear actions; and Maximise opportunities for people to be more involved and have a meaningful say in decisions which affect their lives.

As a partnership we are committed to working together and have agreed to use this strategy as an opportunity to ۗ​ۗ learn from each other and share good practice; ۗ​ۗ develop our partnership’s processes to make the

most of our collective reach into the community;

ۗ​ۗ enable more people to influence and develop

ownership of the Community Plan;

ۗ​ۗ respond to growing demands for transparency and

“Delivering public health effectively means working at the heart of communities – not only empowering people to live healthier lives, but also listening and learning to ensure that we deliver services and support effectively. Working collaboratively with our partners and engaging with residents of the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough are helping us to improve people’s health and wellbeing across the area.”

PHA

accountability; and

ۗ​ۗ reflect on the quality of our engagement.

“Keeping people safe is the core ethos of policing. Partner engagement, collaborative working and listening to the concerns of the community helps us to focus and deliver an effective response to local issues.”

PSNI

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Our Community Engagement Strategy

03

While there are 13 statutory community planning partners who have specific duties to participate, we recognise that to achieve the long-term aspirations set out in our community plan, businesses, the voluntary sector and statutory agencies need to work together to make a difference.

Membership of our partnership reflects this. There are over 300 people from around 90 organisations who sit on the wider partnership structures. This inclusive approach to developing our partnership, with an emphasis on building strong working relationships, has created shared ownership of the plan across sectors and across the Borough.

about our community planning partnership 8

Our Borough has vibrant and diverse community, voluntary and social enterprise sectors. In June 2018, we established a Community and Voluntary Sector Panel to make sure that these sectors were partners in the process. There are currently 38 people on the panel and these representatives play an important role in keeping the wider sector and local communities informed and involved.

“The Community and Voluntary Sector Panel provides an opportunity to shape not only our own future but the futures of our children and grandchildren. It allows us direct input into decisions that have a direct and long-term effect on both our social and working lives.

The Community Engagement Strategy is an important tool for the residents of the Borough and it is essential that all of the various groupings within the community network take advantage of it and become engaged.”

PANEL MEMBER

“ABC Community Network welcomed the opportunity of being actively involved in the community planning governance structure, including chairing the Community and Voluntary Sector Panel and representing the panel at the Community Planning Strategic Partnership. The process to date has been very inclusive and ensured formal, ongoing participation of the community and voluntary sector in the development of the Community Plan and its implementation.”

CHAIR OF PANEL

about our community planning partnership

COMMUNITY PLANNING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

COMMUNITY & VOLUNTARY SECTOR PANEL

THEMATIC ACTION PLANNING TEAMS HEALTHY

COMMUNITY

CONFIDENT & WELCOMING

SKILLED & ENTERPRISING

TOURISM

COMMUNITY

ECONOMY

ECONOMY

CREATIVE

PLACE

ENHANCED & REVITALISED

ENGAGEMENT & COMMUNICATIONS WORKING GROUP

We are committed to working with local business to ensure that they can also play an active role. Local businesses contribute through creating local wealth, but also have a role to play in the community as good corporate citizens. Community planning offers opportunities for local businesses to be involved in how the area is planned, and also to give back to their communities.

Our Elected Members sit on all of the partnership structures. They have a key leadership role to play, including reaching out to communities to ensure that the community plan is meeting local needs and aspirations. We will work with colleagues across Council to ensure that our Elected Members are supported in this work.

Community planning is about giving local people their opportunity to have their say on issues that matter to them and their communities. It is an exciting time for us and by working together we can explore new, innovative and creative ways to deliver public services that will make a positive impact and bring about real change�

COUNCILLOR

PLACE

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Community Engagement Strategy 2019

2015 - 2017

Introduction of Community Planning

how we got here 10

2015

Active Engagement in developing the Community Plan

Nov 2017

Community Planning Partnership established Community Plan launched

May 2017

about our community planning partnership

May 2018

ECONOMY Action Plans agreed

May 2018

Community & Voluntary Sector Panel established

Jan 2019

COMMUNITY Action Plans agreed

Sep 2018

Agreement of the collaborative Communication Plan and Guidance PLACE Action Plans agreed

Mar 2019

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Our Community Engagement Strategy

04

As partners we are committed to increasing levels of community involvement in our engagement processes and achieving our Confident Community long-term outcome that “Everyone has opportunities to engage in community life and shape decisions - we have a strong sense of community belonging and take pride in our area.”

There are varying levels of engagement and communities can participate in a range of ways and to differing levels of influence. Each level of involvement is important and has a role in the engagement process.

our community engagement framework 12

The International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) has developed a 5-step framework which sets out the varying depths and scope of community engagement and establishes five potential roles for the community in any engagement process. The framework supports partners to determine the level and style of engagement required to achieve their engagement goal.

Moving along the spectrum from left to right expectations of levels of community input, impact on decision-making processes and distribution of power increases. Informing and Consulting with communities have lower levels of community input and involve sharing information through websites, social media or newsletters, or obtaining feedback on a policy, issue or programme.

At the other end of the spectrum Collaborating with and Empowering communities to, for example, develop solutions and deliver services, demands high levels of community input, requires ongoing,

face to face communication and offers greater distribution of power and influence on final decisionmaking processes. Partnership approaches such as Co-production which bring people together to find shared solutions work best when people are empowered.

Co-production is at the heart of ‘Delivering Together 2026’ the transformation programme for health and social care in Northern Ireland. We see partnership working as a key enabler. Co-production seeks to combine people’s strength, knowledge, expertise and resources to improve personal, family and community health and well-being – a genuine partnership approach which brings people together. Delivering Together commits us to building and strengthening partnerships working with other providers of care, including those in the voluntary and community sector and in other sectors in support of the Programme for Government (PfG) priorities – Community Planning is an important mechanism for achieving this.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE BOARD

our community engagement framework

In delivering our nine community planning outcomes we will use the spectrum to determine which level of engagement is most appropriate. Yet, we will always strive to empower communities by creating and supporting meaningful opportunities for people to influence decisions on how local services, programmes and projects are delivered. We recognise and value the positive change that this can contribute to the wellbeing and quality of life experienced across the Borough. It will be important to continue to create an enabling environment to support and increase levels of community engagement and effective influence, bringing decision making closer to local communities.

Each level of engagement is set out below with an explanation of the overall engagement goal, the promise being made to the community, appropriate methods and existing good practice from across members of the Community Planning Partnership.

PROMISE TO THE PUBLIC

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION GOAL

INFORM

CONSULT

INVOLVE

COLLABORATE

EMPOWER

To provide the public with To obtain public feedback on balanced and objective analysis, alternatives and/or information to assist them in decisions. understanding the problem, alternatives, opportunities and/or solutions.

To work directly with the public throughout the process to ensure that public concerns and aspirations are consistently understood and considered.

To partner with the public in each To place the final decision-making aspect of the decision including in the hands of the public. the development of alternatives and the identification of the preferred solution

We will keep you informed

We will work with you to ensure that your concerns and aspirations are directly reflected in the alternatives developed and provide feedback on how community input influenced the decision

We will look to you for advice We will implement what you and innovation in formulating decide solutions and incorporate your advice and recommendations into the decisions to the maximum extent possible

• Workshops • World Café • Site Visits / Tours

• Citizen advisory committees • Consensus Building • Participatory decision-making • Co-production processes

We will keep you informed, listen to and acknowledge concerns and aspirations, and provide feedback on how public input influenced the decision

METHODS CAN INCLUDE

• Social Media • On-line Consultation Hubs • Conferences and Events • Surveys • Newsletters • Focus groups Mystery Shopping • Leaflets Source: The International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) • Websites

• Citizen juries • Delegated decision • Community Panels • Participatory Budgeting • Co-production processes

© The International Association for Public Participation (www.iap2.org)

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Community Engagement Strategy 2019

INFORM

GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLES FROM ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY PLANNING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

• PSNI: Social Media – humorous Facebook Posts from ‘M’ • Partners’ Magazines and Communications e.g. Borough Link • Health and Social Care Board in partnership with HSCT, the Regional Adoption and Fostering Service and Adoption UK- Adoption Changes Lives Campaign: myth busting on who can adopt.

CONSULT

• Statutory Partners On-line • PSNI: Next Door Social Media Consultation Tool – Citizen Space Platform two-way engagement with direct action and response from PSNI www.nextdoor.co.uk • NI Housing Executive: Continuous Tenants Omnibus Survey

• Police and Community Safety Partnership Public Meetings to identify public concerns

© The International Association for Public Participation (www.iap2.org)

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INVOLVE

COLLABORATE

EMPOWER

• Health Partners: Consultation • Healthy Living Centres in Armagh Panels – Daisy Hill Hospital Banbridge and Craigavon Area Pathfinder Project included early Southern Health and Social Care and ongoing engagement Trust, PHA, Verve Network with Armagh Consortium and Clanrye • Health Partners and ACBCBC: Good Neighbourhood for Ageing Well Action Plans • Health Partners and ACBCBC: Citizens Hub Gambling and impacts on young people • NI Housing Executive: Housing Community Network identifying policy issues • ABC Community Network: Training Needs Assessment for CVS groups

• NI Housing Executive – Communities Leading Change Participatory Budgeting Project delivered by Newry Mourne and Down Community Planning Partnership

our community engagement framework

INFORM

GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLES FROM ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY PLANNING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

• PHA: Smoking Cessation Make March your Month to Quit Campaign

CONSULT • Thematic Action Planning Teams wider consultation for action plan preparation

• HE: Website and My Housing Executive App www.nihe.gov.uk

INVOLVE • Process to develop and shape Peace IV Action Plan and Projects

COLLABORATE • Education Authority: Community extended hours of school in Keady • Education Authority: Youth Councils Facebook @ banbridgeyouthcouncil @ craigavonyouthcouncil • Education Authority: Community Conversations giving communities a voice in relation to future school provision in their area Planning for Sustainable Education Provision

EMPOWER • ACBCBC: Gosford Forest Park Adventure Play Trail School Workshops and the community made decisions on the design of the play park • ACBCBC: Balloon and Lantern Consultation and decision-making process, public made the final decision

• Community Plan Community and Voluntary Sector Panel: panel members represented on thematic action planning teams and two panel members represented on the Community Planning Strategic Partnership ensuring a community voice

© The International Association for Public Participation (www.iap2.org)

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Community Engagement Strategy 2019

05

achieving quality community engagement 16

achieving quality community involvement

We strive to support effective community engagement practice.

To help us do this, as a partnership, we have adopted a set of seven standards, developed in Scotland, to inform our engagement processes. Applying these standards will support consistent engagement practice across our partnership structures, help us to assess and improve our impact and benchmark for good practice.

In order to implement the above standards for community engagement, we will deliver training to each of our Thematic Action Planning Teams. Each team will use the engagement handbook, based on the standards, to enable us to plan effectively and to reflect on and measure the effectiveness of our community engagement.

We are also mindful of and guided by Community Development National Occupational Standards and Values which seek to empower, enable and encourage participation which has a positive impact on poverty, discrimination and social exclusion.

Inclusion We will identify and involve the people and organisations that are affected by the focus of the engagement.

Support We will identify and overcome any barriers to participation.

Communication We will communicate clearly and regularly with the people, organisations and communities affected by the engagement.

Impact

We will assess the impact of the engagement and use what has been learned to improve our future community engagement.

Planning There is a clear purpose for the engagement, which is based on a shared understanding of community needs and ambitions.

Methods We will use methods of engagement that are fit for purpose.

Working Together We will work effectively together to achieve the aims of the engagement.

Source: Scottish Community Development Centre and Scottish Government National Standards for Community Engagement Revised in 2016: www.scdc.org.uk/what/national-standards

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Community Engagement Strategy 2019

06

As we move towards engagement that is more empowering, and requires greater levels of community involvement there are three main challenges.

Research by What Works Scotland emphasises the importance of planning and designing engagement which is Inclusive; Deliberative and ultimately has Impact.

Cle IM & de ar lin P cis k io

m

IA LO QUA GU LITY OF N E& DELIBERATIO

D

challenges community engagement

n

USION & CL ITY IN IVERS D

T licy ACto poaking

Source: Escobar, O 2014, Towards Participatory Democracy in Scotland. in POST (ed.), Scotland 44: Ideas for a new nation.

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INCLUSIVE & DIVERSE Views and perspectives should be representative of wider society and not be dominated by the ‘usual suspects’ or those who can shout loudest. Inclusive engagement is central to addressing inequality. The challenge is to design engagement processes which reduce barriers to those commonly referred to as ‘hard to reach’ or perhaps more accurately ‘easy to ignore’. As a partnership we are committed to identifying gaps in involvement and will undertake targeted projects to address these. It is also important to design processes that include a diversity of perspectives and knowledge to tap into the wisdom of the crowd. Using a range of engagement channels will appeal to a wider crosssection of people.

DELIBERATIVE Safe spaces should be created which support evidence based, facilitated discussion and exchange which can lead to more informed citizens and decisionmaking. As a partnership we will strive to create and support such spaces and opportunities.

IMPACT It is important that participants feel their contributions are valued and that they can tangibly see how their input has made a difference to policy and decision-making.

challenges community engagement

PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING AND MINI-PUBLIC PROCESSES are two innovative techniques which seek to include a diverse range of citizens, create spaces for meaningful and informed exchange and empower citizens to make a real difference through engagement which is influential and has clear links to policy and decision-making or to resource allocation.

PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING (PB) directly involves local people in making decisions on the spending and priorities of a defined public budget to meet local needs. There are two principal PB models: Small grants allocation with individual pots of money and mainstream investment where a percentage of a resource is allocated via PB. In both processes a menu of ideas or projects are identified through a process of deliberation; participants vote for their priorities with the resources going to the projects or ideas which receive the most support. PB is much more than just deciding how resources are allocated. It provides opportunities to engage in innovative ways that reach out to and increases participation from people who may not have a voice. It improves trust and builds relationships and connections and it empowers participants to make decisions. The partnership will pilot a PB project and develop a local PB network for the Borough to support the development of further PB processes.

“The Housing Executive was delighted to participate in the pilot PB project in Newry Mourne and Down. As an organisation that works closely with community groups, we are always keen to explore new and innovative ways with engaging the communities we serve. The PB pilot empowered communities to lead and make real changes in respect of issues that matter most to them. It is our intention to investigate ways which we can use this approach in supporting our work with communities across Northern Ireland”

MINI-PUBLICS bring together randomly selected citizens who are representative of the wider public. They include two key stages: learning and information exchange on a particular issue or theme and secondly, facilitated discussion and scrutiny of that evidence to develop collective recommendations or to inform policy and decision-making and wider public opinion. The partnership will research the range of minipublic techniques and identify opportunities to pilot this approach with the aim of delivering more informed, more inclusive, deliberative and influential engagement processes.

NORTHERN IRELAND HOUSING EXECUTIVE

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Community Engagement Strategy 2019

07

next steps & action plan 20

next steps & action plan

It will be important for us to establish clear roles and responsibilities for partners in delivering this Community Engagement Strategy.

Community Planning Strategic Partnership The Community Planning Strategic Partnership has overall responsibility for the implementation of this Community Engagement Strategy. They have a role in troubleshooting and ensuring communities can see how their engagement has made a difference.

Community and Voluntary Sector Panel The Community and Voluntary Sector Panel has a key role as a partner, including promoting engagement with residents and the wider community and voluntary sector. The panel can also advise the partnership on community engagement.

Engagement and Communications Working Group This group has already overseen the establishment of the Community and Voluntary Sector Panel and has developed a joined-up Communications Plan and Guidance for the partnership.

Community Planning Team The Community Planning Team will have a key role in supporting partners as they embed the use of Community Engagement Standards. They will support and encourage partners to get involved in training and help promote its use across the whole partnership. The Community Planning Team will embed the Commuity Engagement Standards in all areas of their work and ensure these are used during the review of the Community Plan.

This strategy has been developed with the Engagement and Communications Working Group, and while some of the actions sit with the Thematic Action Planning Teams, they will have a key role in driving and overseeing the actions within the strategy and reporting to the Community Planning Strategic Partnership on its implementation.

Thematic Action Planning Teams Thematic Action Planning Teams are responsible for ongoing community engagement. Each team will apply the Community Engagement Standards. This will involve attending training on the standards and using the engagement manual associated with the standards.

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Community Engagement Strategy 2019

The partnership is committed to ongoing community engagement and specific actions through the thematic action plans. Existing actions are outlined below, along with additional actions to achieve the ambitions as set out in this strategy.

To enhance our community engagement through agreed standards, defined roles and clear actions ACTION

WHO?

TIMEFRAME

RESOURCES REQUIRED

Continue to implement collaborative communications plan and communications guidance.

Communications Working Group and all partners

Ongoing

Staff and use of existing communications tools

SPECTRUM OF ENGAGEMENT

INFORM Communicate our first progress statement in a clear and accessible way.

Communications Working Group

Nov/Dec 2019

INFORM Implement the Scottish Community Engagement Standards through training and the use of a Community Engagement Handbook.

Community Planning Partnership TAP Teams

Ongoing

2019-2020

Carnegie UK Trust to resource through Embedding Wellbeing in NI Project

Engagement Working Group Work across the partnership to Engagement Working research and to share good practice, Group to develop an engagement tool box and joining up existing engagement mechanisms.

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June 2019 – March 2020

Carnegie UK Trust to resource through Embedding Wellbeing in NI Project

INFORM

CONSULT

INVOLVE

COLLABORATE EMPOWER

INFORM

CONSULT

INVOLVE

COLLABORATE EMPOWER

next steps & action plan

ACTION

WHO?

TIMEFRAME

Work together to ensure that the partnership plan and deliver a Borough-wide engagement exercise to review the community plan, in line with the Scottish Community Engagement Standards.

Community Planning Partnership

2021

Provide development support to Elected Members on community planning.

Learning and Development, Council

Report regularly to the Community Planning Strategic Partnership on progress towards implementing this strategy and impact achieved.

Engagement and Communications Working Group

RESOURCES REQUIRED

Engagement and Communications Working Group CVSP TAP Teams

SPECTRUM OF ENGAGEMENT

INFORM

CONSULT

INVOLVE

COLLABORATE

Member Services, Council

Reports presented annually to the partnership

Staff time

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Community Engagement Strategy 2019

To maximise opportunities for people to be more involved and have a meaningful say in decisions which affect their lives ACTION

WHO?

TIMEFRAME

RESOURCES REQUIRED

Identify any gaps in Section 75 involvement and those facing barriers to inclusion and deliver targeted projects with communities to ensure everyone can shape the community plan and its actions.

Engagement Working Group

March to September 2020

Carnegie UK Trust to resource through Embedding Wellbeing in NI Project

Work with children and young people Confident and to develop innovative models to Welcoming engage them in the partnership.

Community Action Planning Team

March to September 2020

Continue to support the Community and Voluntary Sector Panel to contribute to the partnership and further explore the role of these sectors in public decision making.

Ongoing

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CVSP Engagement Working Group

Carnegie UK Trust to resource through Embedding Wellbeing in NI Project

Carnegie UK Trust to resource through Embedding Wellbeing in NI Project

SPECTRUM OF ENGAGEMENT

INFORM

CONSULT

INVOLVE

COLLABORATE EMPOWER

INFORM

CONSULT

INVOLVE

COLLABORATE EMPOWER

INFORM

CONSULT

INVOLVE

COLLABORATE EMPOWER

next steps & action plan

ACTION

WHO?

TIMEFRAME

Work with local business to agree a model for their involvement in the community planning partnership.

Community Planning Team, Council Economic Development, Invest NI

Ongoing

Creative Place Action Planning Team

Autumn 2019 and ongoing

Implement a Participatory Budgeting pilot.

RESOURCES REQUIRED

SPECTRUM OF ENGAGEMENT

INFORM

CONSULT

INVOLVE

COLLABORATE EMPOWER

Partners to contribute funding pool EMPOWER

Support a Participatory Budgeting Network for the Borough.

Engagement Working Group

From Autumn 2019

Carnegie UK Trust to resource through Embedding Wellbeing in NI Project

EMPOWER

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Community Engagement Strategy 2019

our community planning strategic partnership 26

COMMUNITY & VOLUNTARY SECTOR PANEL

thank you

This strategy was developed in conjunction with Community Places through Carnegie UK Trust’s Embedding Wellbeing in Northern Ireland Project. Our thanks also go to Dr Claire Bynner and Dr Oliver Escobar for their ideas and training which influenced the strategy and to all those from across the partnership who took part in the workshops during its development.

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For further information please contact Community Planning Team e communityplanning@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk p 028 4066 0644 e Community Planning Team Civic Building Downshire Road Banbridge BT32 3JY